SOUTH BEND (AP) — Former Purdue forward Scott Martin has decided to transfer to Notre Dame.

Martin said Wednesday that he called Fighting Irish coach Mike Brey on Tuesday to tell him of his decision. He picked Notre Dame after making visits to Butler and his hometown school, Valparaiso.

Martin said he liked the school and his new teammates. He said Brey was a key factor in his decision.

"He lets players play and lets them do what they're good at," Martin said.

The 6-foot-8 left-hander started eight games for the Boilermakers, who finished the season 25-9 after losing to Xavier in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Martin said he decided to leave Purdue because "I just felt for me to be the best I can be I needed to try something different."

Martin was a highly rated recruit out of Valparaiso High School, averaging 22.2 points and 9.1 rebounds as a senior. With an average 8.5 points and 3.8 rebounds, he averaged nearly 22 minutes a game.

Martin is the second player to transfer to Notre Dame this offseason. Ben Hansbrough, who helped Mississippi State advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament in March, announced in April that he is transferring to Notre Dame.

Neither player can play until the 2009-10 season. Hansbrough will have two years of eligibility left, while Martin will have three.

Martin said he and Hansbrough will try to help Notre Dame, which went 25-8 last season and lost to Washington State in the NCAA second round, get better next season during practices.

"We'll definitely try to help as soon as we can with that, going after guys every day and trying to make those guys better," Martin said.